Now that Jason Varitek has been re-signed by the Boston Red Sox, what’s next for them. Well the first thing that comes to mind is truck day on February 6th. There are other questions that need to be answered.
Now that Tek will be around for probably the next two years, what will the Red Sox do at catcher after that? Why is that significant right now? Well they don’t really have the catcher of the future hanging around. The talk all around baseball is that the Red Sox will still pursue a trade for either Miguel Montero of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jarrod Saltalamacchia of Texas Rangers or Taylor Teagarden, also of the Rangers.
There are conflicting reports though.
From Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe:
According to a baseball source, the Sox still could make a deal for a young, developing catcher before the start of the season, though Varitek’s presence now gives them the luxury of extending that search into midyear (just before or at the annual July 31 trading deadline) and even beyond the 2009 season.
From Jeff Wilson of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram:
That should end any more talk of Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden being traded to Boston, and allow them to go into camp to compete for the starting job. Expect Saltalamacchia to go into Surprise, Ariz., atop the depth chart.
Personally I think the Red Sox still need to pursue a trade to get a younger catcher who is capable of handling the pitching staff sooner rather than later to allow that person to get some tutelage under Varitek. The man is a human computer behind the plate plus the presence of Gary Tuck doesn’t hurt either.
Massarotti also notes that Varitek spoke with GM Theo Epstein on Thursday night:
According to a team source, Varitek and general manager Theo Epstein spoke directly via telephone late Thursday night to help bridge the gap between the player and team. Sox officials then finalized the deal with agent Scott Boras this morning and early afternoon, just beyond an 8:30 a.m. deadline the team had established before Varitek and Epstein spoke.
Tek had always wanted to stay a member of the Red Sox especially given the fact that he directed his agent Scott Borahole not to talk money with other teams. That didn’t really matter though as there weren’t offers pouring in for his services.
It’s over now and both sides can move forward to hopefully what is another World Series trophy for the Red Sox.
The newest member of the MLB Network Sean Casey called into NESN SportsDesk last night to give his thoughts on Varitek coming back.
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Gary Marbry has some nuggets on Jason Varitek [WEEI]
Bob Ryan says Jason Varitek was lucky not to drown testing the free agent waters [Boston Globe]
Jason Varitek – A Nation Rejoices [SOX & Dawgs]
The Red Sox were in the winner in this tussle [Boston Herald]
Can Jason Varitek still handle the Red Sox pitching staff? [Hartford Courant]
Red Sox owner John Henry is engaged [Inside Track]
Red Sox prospect Nick Hagadone is back on track after Tommy John surgery [Providence Journal]
Lost in all the hoopla of the Varitek saga yesterday was the fact that the Red Sox celebrated the life of Jackie Robinson at Fenway Park [redsox.com]
